Lady Billies rally in seventh to beat East

MAN — The Man High School softball team rallied to beat Class AA Wyoming East 6-5 on Friday night.

The Lady Billies trailed 5-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh before plating two runs to win it.

Man improved to 2-1 on the season with the win. The Lady Billies, which lost at sectional foe Sherman on Thursday night by a 1-0 score, are ranked No. 3 in the state in Class A.

Man ace Taylor Tomblin picked up the win against East.

Cari Blair led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a walk on four straight balls by Lady Warriors hurler Larisha Davis.

Kelly Grimmett then laid down a bunt and Wyoming East catcher threw the ball over the first baseman’s head into right field as Blair came around all the way from first to score, tying it up at 5, while Grimmett raced to third on the two-base throwing error.

Wyoming East head coach Doc Warner then called for a mound conference.

Then on the first pitch to Summer Sword the ball got by the catcher and Grimmett raced home for the game winner as Man came away with the 6-5 win.

Wyoming East had taken an early 3-0 lead after plating three runs off Tomblin in the first inning. The big hit was a two-run single off the bat of Leah Bailey.

Man then answered with two runs of its own off Wyoming East starter Davis.

Grimmett had a one out single. Sword then bunted but it was misplayed by East as the throw went down the right field line, scoring Grimmett to make it 3-1. Tomblin then helped her own cause with a long sac fly to deep center field, scoring Sword to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Both teams went out quietly in the second inning.

The Lady Billies tied the game up at 3-3 in the home half of the third frame as Sword ripped a two-out double and then scored on an RBI single by Tomblin.

Tomblin then got the Lady Warriors out in order in the top of the fourth inning.

Tabby Ferguson led off the Man’s fourth stanza with a solid single up the middle. Casey Albright then laid down a perfect bunt and the pitcher then threw the ball to first ball. The ball, however, hit Albright in the back of the helmet and the ball went into right field scoring Ferguson. The home plate umpire, though, called Albright out saying she was inside the line thus interfering on the play. Ferguson then had to return to first base on the dead ball taking the run off the scoreboard.

Micayla Gibson then popped out to the shortstop and Elizabeth Dickerson then struck out to end the threat with the game still tied 3-3.

Wyoming East then took the lead in the top of the fifth inning off Tomblin, scoring two runs to make it 5-3. Chelsey Duncan led off with a bunt single. She was followed by a single to right field by Brenna Perte as both runners moved to second and third. Larisha Davis then grounded out as both runners had to hold. Then Emily Davis delivered a two-run single to give WEHS the 5-3 edge.

Man cut the lead to 5-4 in the bottom of the fifth inning of play as Blair led off with a double off Davis. Grimmett then laid down a sac bunt moving Blair to third. Sword then had an RBI ground out to make it 5-4.

Both teams went scoreless in the sixth inning.

Tomblin then gave up a leadoff single to Davis in the top of the seventh inning but was then able to get them out in order heading into the bottom of the seventh frame as Man would rally with the two runs for the 6-5 win.

Tomblin struck out eight batters and scattered 10 hits to pick up the win.

The Lady Billies had six hits in the game, led by Ferguson who had two.

Man is scheduled to return to the softball diamond on Monday at Fayetteville in a 2 p.m. ballgame. Man is back home on Tuesday against Westside in a 5:30 p.m. contest. Man plays in the Chapmanville Lady Tigers Invitational April 4-6.